About the NC SBE SBE Meeting Information SBE Highlights SBE Policy Manual Advisory Councils, Boards and Commissions Legislative Report Legal Affairs On the Road Education News Resources HOME	March 6-7, 2002 Special Note: To review background materials on each item, please go to /sbe_meetings/0203_sbagenda.html Click on the appropriate agenda category, High Student Achievement (HAS); Quality Teachers, Administrators and Staff (QP); Effective and Efficient Operations (EEO); Safe, Orderly and Caring Schools (SS); or Strong Family, Community and Business Support (FCB). Issues Session: Dropouts and Alternative Learning Programs Although North Carolina's high school dropout rate has shown recent declines, the fact that 22,365 students dropped out of school in 2000-01 is a strong concern of State Board of Education members. Analysis of the data involving dropouts shows that male students are most at-risk of dropping out. In terms of racial groups, the most at-risk groups, in order, are Native American males and females, Hispanic females, and Black, Hispanic and white males. Students most often drop out at ninth grade and at age 16, although there has been a recent increase in the number of 18-year-olds dropping out.  The decision to drop out is frequently made for a variety of reasons. Factors involving the school, family, community and individual attitudes all play a role, according to Dr. Henry Johnson, associate superintendent for Instructional and Accountability Services, NC Department of Public Instruction. Reported reasons for dropping out include attendance, academic problems, enrollment in a community college, the choice of work over school or failure to return after a long-term suspension. School systems provide services for many students who are at risk of dropping out through alternative learning programs or schools. Students referred to alternative programs also may have other problems, such as behavior problems. Although 15 local school districts operate alternative programs that earned Exemplary Status under the ABCs of Public Education, there continue to be concerns about consistency of quality statewide and a need to share best practices in this field more widely. Approved Items College/University Prep Course of Study Graduation Requirements - Languages Other than English (HSP1)- The State Board amended its high school graduation requirements for the college/university pre course of study to allow a student to satisfy the second language requirement by "demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English as determined by the local education agency."   Field Testing Requirements for Schools in Samples (HSP6) - Field testing requirements and samples for the spring 2002 were approved by the Board, after members expressed concern that field testing notifications were being sent to local schools this late in the year. Field testing samples are drawn to represent a statewide population of students based on a variety of demographic factors, including achievement. This year, field tests will be conducted in mathematics, reading, computer skills, math and science end-of-course tests and the new exit exam. An outside vendor is being sought to draw the field test sample for the 2002-03 school year so that local schools will be notified of field testing participation in the fall of 2002, rather than later in the year. Charter School Approval (EEO1)- Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School was approved by the State Board to take the 100th and last charter available in North Carolina at this time. Casa Esperanza will be in Wake County and will serve K-6 students using a Montessori philosophy and pedagogy and Montessori certified faculty. A special focus of the school will be on Hispanic students and their families.  Assistance, Intervention and Sanctions for Continually Low-Performing Schools (HSP2) - A multi-year plan of action was approved to provide assistance, intervention and sanctions for schools that are low performing in three out of four years. The plan builds on existing steps currently undertaken by state assistance teams assigned to low performing schools. In year three (first occurring in 2002-03), the State Board of Education would select a new governance structure for continually low performing schools. The plan also prohibits the transfer of teachers who perform below standard to continually low performing schools. Revision of the Scoring and Reporting for the NC Alternate Assessment Portfolio, Effective 2001-02 Scoring and Reporting (HSP3)- Alternate Assessment Portfolios will now be scored with a system that requires each portfolio to be scored by two readers using an analytic process. This new process will not change the activities of teachers or students, but it will provide more reliable scores and will allow these assessments to be better aligned with the end-of-grade and end-of-course tests. NC WiseOwl (HSP4)-Board members approved a report to the Joint Information Technology Appropriations Committee that outlined options for working collaboratively with the Department of Cultural Resources' NC LIVE Web site to continue delivery of the kinds of services provided through NC WiseOwl, an online library and subscription service for schools. Board members indicated their endorsement of an option that would continue to provide access to the NC LIVE and NC WiseOwl subscription resources separately and at no additional cost. Proposed Policies and Changes on Testing Students with Disabilities (HSP5)- A report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on proposed policies and changes on testing students with disabilities was approved by the Board. This report lists the accommodations and alternate methods of assessment that are available to students with disabilities. Initial Licensure Program Report (QP2)- Seven recommendations were part of a report on the Initial Licensure Program approved by the Board for presentation to the Joint Education Oversight Committee. The report includes results of surveys from teachers who had completed the performance-based licensure program, their mentors, principals and other central office professionals. The recommendations include giving mentors more time to work with beginning teachers, more training and continued monitoring of the impact of the initial licensure program. Revision of Teacher Education Program Approval Standards (QP3)- Teacher education programs are reviewed every five years using standards for program approval adopted by the State Board of Education. This month, the Board approved revised standards in several specialty areas as well as Program Approval, Core Standards, Diversity Standards and Technology Standards. The new standards will be in effect for Fall 2003 program approval visits. Charter School Enrollment Increases (EEO2)-Beginning with a charter school's second year of operation, charter schools are allowed to increase enrollment by as much as 10 percent or as otherwise provided in their charter. This month, the Board acted on several requests by charter schools to increase enrollment by more than 10 percent. Sallie B. Howard, Wilson County; East Wake Academy and PreEminent Charter, Wake County; Woods Charter School, Chatham County; and Bethany Community Middle School, Rockingham County all received this approval. Central Office Administration Allotment Policy (EEO3) -As directed by legislation, the State Board approved a new formula for allocating funds for central office administration. The new formula was developed with extensive input from a variety of educators and associations and includes the following: a superintendent base in accordance with the maximum salary (plus the add on for doctorate) for the average daily membership ranges per the superintendent salary schedule in effect for the fiscal year, and a central office administrators' base that is graduated according to allotted ADM. The dollar amount for base positions is 85 percent of the current average salary for a Central Office Administrator (plus add on for doctorate) plus benefits per the salary schedule in effect for the fiscal year. After the base is allotted, the remaining funds are allocated according to dollars per ADM. Several special provisions also are a part of the new policy. AIM (Action, Inspiration, Motivation) Mini-Grants to Local Migrant Education Programs (EEO4)-Mini-grants of up to $700 per local school district will be available to local migrant education programs to enhance or begin AIM Clubs to motivate and encourage middle and high school students to stay in school and graduate.  Report on Suspensions and Expulsions (SS1)- Long term suspensions went up in North Carolina from 2,216 in 1999-2000 to 2,712 in 2000-01 while the rate also increased from 177 per 100,000 students in 1999-2000 to 214 per 100,000 students in 2000-01. Male students continue to receive 3/4 of all long-term suspensions, but female students are receiving long-term suspensions with increasing frequency. Black males are the most over-represented demographic category in long term suspensions. The frequency of long-term suspensions increases with each grade level from K through nine, peaking at ninth grade. Expulsions have increased from 87 in 1999-2000 to 149 in 2000-01. For the most part, the same trends reflected in the suspension numbers hold true for expulsions. Discussion Items Scheduled for Future Action Textbook Adoption Call Letter (HSP7)-The call letter was presented for adopting new textbooks in Social Studies, K-12; Business Education, 6-12; and Marketing Education, 9-12. Approval is expected in April. Resources for Student Accountability Standards (EEO5) -An analysis of funding provided from several sources for student accountability standards was reviewed this month. Resources come from eight funding sources. 2002-03 Supplemental Budget Request (EE)6) -Board members began discussions about their supplemental budget request for 2002-03. Although members noted that they were realistic regarding the state's budget situation and the availability of new funds, they also said they felt compelled to consider the most urgent needs and provide them in a request. As part of this process, Board members reviewed an analysis of expansion budget requests for 2002-03 that showed what had been funded and what remains unfunded. Information Items Middle Grades Task Force Progress Report (HSP9) -In April 2001, a Middle Grades Task Force was formed to consider the current needs of middle grades students. The last time that middle grades education and student achievement was studied was 1990 when the report, Last Best Chance, was issued concerning the academic achievement and future for 10- to 15-year-olds. In a progress report to the Board, task force members described their work to date and how it is organized around educator preparation, diversity, organization and culture, partnerships, curriculum and instruction. The final report will be presented in June. Initial Status Report from DPI Distance/Virtual Learning Task Force (HSP10)   Special Presentations Afghanistan Project - State Superintendent Mike Ward reported on his recent trip to Afghanistan with the organization Stop Hunger Now. As a result of this trip and a conference call with North Carolina students, Ward and several students from across the state have started the Student to Student: North Carolina Reaches Out to Afghanistan program to provide basic school supplies to students in that very needy country. There are some 9.6 million school-age children in Afghanistan. Many of these lack desks, paper, pencils, and other basic school supplies. Students across the state are putting together student and teacher kits of basic school supplies. The North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church is supplying warehouse space and the international relief organization, Stop Hunger Now, is coordinating the delivery of the kits to Afghanistan. Co-chairs of Student to Student are: Jennifer Bishop, Southeast Raleigh High School; Carrie Hamilton, West Forsyth High School; Krystal Hill, Richmond Senior High School; and State Superintendent Ward. For more information, check out the DPI Web site, http://www.ncpublicschools.org and look under What's Going On. Young Scholars - The largest grant ever to public schools by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation was $5 million for the Young Scholars Program implemented in 19 low wealth elementary and middle schools and administered by the Public School Forum. Gail Daughtry, Forum coordinator of this program, reported that it targets low income students who may be at risk and provides a rich after-school program that incorporates complex learning activities, service learning and arts and technology. As a result of involvement in the program, the 1,000 students involved have dramatically improved grades and attendance in school. Junior Achievement - Phil Volponi of Junior Achievement presented an overview of the JA program in North Carolina schools. The program reaches approximately 85,000 students annually in North Carolina with training and instruction in the free enterprise system.  <Back to Top>